An earthquake of magnitude 7 on the Richter scale struck the Solomon Islands on Tuesday and forced the population to seek refuge in higher areas, due to the tsunami warning, meanwhile withdrawn.
There are no reports of widespread damage or injuries so far and the initial tsunami warning was lifted after the threat passed.
“There is no major structural damage to the buildings,” Solomon Islands government spokesman George Herming said.
Herming noted that the Solomon Islands, home to some 700,000 people, have no tall buildings that could be vulnerable to an earthquake, but he admitted there was some panic and traffic chaos in the capital Honiara as everyone tried to drive onto higher ground. tall.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said all Australian High Commission staff were safe.
“There are no reports of injuries, but the roof of the High Commissioner’s Annex has collapsed, pointing to possible damage across the city,” Albanese told parliament.
“Staff have been moved to higher ground because a tsunami warning has been issued. Our High Commissioner is trying to confirm the safety of all Australians in the Solomon Islands.”
The epicenter of the earthquake was in the ocean, about 56 kilometers from Honiara, at a depth of 13 kilometers, according to the United States Geological Survey.
The Solomon Islands have hundreds of islands located in the South Pacific and maritime borders with Papua New Guinea, Nauru and Vanuatu.
The archipelago is located in the so-called “ring of fire” in the Pacific, an area of great seismic and volcanic activity, where thousands of earthquakes are recorded each year, mostly of low to moderate magnitude, and with more than one hundred active volcanoes. .
* News updated at 6:30 am
Source: TSF
